Swivel lamp for motor vehicles



July 12, 1932. F. b. KENDRICK 1,867,411

SWIVEL LAMP FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed Apr1 7, 1930 wheels are turned.

Patented July v12, 1932 rattan UNITEDQSTATES PATENT 'ortica rAYnT'rE nKENDRrcK, or sr.` raul.. iarnnnsora SWIVEL Lai/irren MOTOR vEHIcLns f Application meajapril 7, 1930. serial No. 442,286,

It is my object to provide simplified and eflicient means forV automatically turning a' headlight for illuminating the road in advanceof the vehicle at curves.

Devices of this general character `have heretofore been provided but as far as I am aware all of such earlier devices have been gether with a fragmentary portion of the ve-V l hicle; Fig. 3 is a central vertical section 1 through the upper portionof the device; Fig.

11 is a detail, rear view showingl the connec-v tion between the vertical rod and horizontall are actuated substantially longitudinally from side to side ofthe vehicle whenl the A swivel lamp 10 is supported on therbrace 8 and is actuated by connection'with the steering tie rod 9. Clamp members 11 and 12 are formed to iit the bracer8 and to be secured thereto by suitable bolts, as best shown in Fig.

pinion 21, the latterrbeing employed whenadiiferentangle of turning is desired. 4

` Thegear segment 18 is iXed on the front end of ya horizontal shaft 22 which is sup-` ported in suitable bearings in the clamp member 11 and arm 13. Secured to the rear end of the shaft 22 isa head 23 to make connection with a tubular crank arm 24. This crank larm is threadedtoit a threadedstud 25 projecting from the-head 23 and slidably receives Y a rod 26 having aball'joint 27 connecting it to the front end of a rigid arm 28,. Rigidly' securing the rear end of the arm 28 to the tie rod 9 is a suitable clamp 29. v A

The degree or amplitude, oftheswivelling movement of the lamp 10 'may be reduced by placing the .pinion'21 in mesh with the teeth'l Y 2O of the gear segment 18 and removing the" pinion 17 from mesh with the gear teeth 19.

Suitable set screws 31v are provided on the' gears-'17 and21 to facilitate'this adjustment.

' The thrust of the gearV segment 18`tending to` 1 separate the teeth from the pinionis'imadev adjustable byfmeans of a screw which leX-f- 75 tends through the bearingmember 15 anden-5A gages the back surface of the gear` segment.

l To mount the device ona vehicle` the clamp Y.

2f1`gis secured to the tie rod 9 so that the arm 28 projects beneath the rear end of theshaft 22 andthe lamp 10,VV with its actuating mech-A anism having bearings in the clamp member lland arm 13, is secured to the brace 8. v The.v rod 28 is then inserted in the tubular membery 24 andthe head 23 slipped over the proj ecting' end ofthe shaft 22 and secured thereto by theV boltso. e' v Adjustment of the lamp 1O t'oproper-po-V sition is accomplished vquietly and easily. Thus the front wheels of the vehicleare first placedl inthe normal., straight position, and u with thebolt 30 loose, the focus of the lamp 10 is then directed to the .front andthe bolt l 30 is finally tightened :to'retain the` parts in operative relation.v 'Vhen 'the vehicle wheels are turned, the ltie rod 9 ismoved laterally, as indicated in' Fig; 2, and carries with it the'arm 28 and lowerend of the* rod v26.v This oscillates V,the shaft` 22 and causes the gear segment 18 tov turnthe'pinion 19;,(0r 21)" together with the shaft 16 and i lamp 10. This swivelling movement of the lamp is proportional to the degree of turning of the steering wheels of the vehicle.

It will be understood that by my arrange# ment offthe rod 26 in telescopic relat-ion to the tubular member 24, I compensate for the spring suspension ofthe body of the vehicle and resulting relative, vertical movement-'between the brace Stand tie rod 9.

Having described my invention what 1 claim as new and'desire to protect by Letters Patentisz i l Y,

l. An attachment for a motor vehicle comprising, a vertical shaft, aswivel lamp secured to said shaft, a horizontal shaft, means for ,secu-ring saidshafts tothe vehicle, gearing connecting said horizontalV and vertical shafts, means for changing the driving ratio between said shafts, a pendant crank on said horizontal shaft and a connection between said crank and a steering element of the vehicle adapted to actuate said crank 'toturn saidlamp when the vehicle-is-turned.`

2. An attachmentfor amotor vehicle having a laterally movable steering element near its front end comprising, avertical sli-aft, av

swivel lamp secured to saidshaf-t, a horizontal shaft, meansjfor securing saidshafts tothe vehicle, a driving connection between said horizontal and vertical shafts, a pendant crank on said horizontal shaft, said crank. ,Y comprising telescopically disposed members freely-movable relative to each other, a rigid,

forwardly projectingarm onV said steering element `and an articulated connection ,be v

tween said crank and armto impart oscillating movement to said crank andthereby turn said lampl whenthe vehicle is turned.

3; Ank attachment for a motor vehiolehav- I inga laterally movable. steeringelement con,k

nectingthe 'front wheels of a .rigidframe member extending parallel to said element,

Y a vertical shaft, means for securing said shaft tosaid frame member, a swivel lamp secured 1 to said shaft and'means for operativelyconnecting said Aswivel shaft withjsaid steering element comprising, a forwardly extending,

Y horizontal shaft,a driving ,'connectionvbee tweensaid horizontal and; vertical shafts,

means for changing the driving ratio be` tween said shafts, a pendant crank on said horizontal' shaft, said crank havingfteletively connecting said swivel shaft with said steering element comprising, a forwardly eX- tending, horizontal shaft, a gear segment fixed in said horizont-al shaft, a pinion fixed on said vertical shaft in mesh with said gear segment, a pendant crank on said horizontal shaft, said crank havingV telescopically ar-v ranged members Vfreely movable relative to each other, a rigid, forwardly projecting arm secured t0 said steering element and a ball joint connection between said crank and arm. c. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name to this specification.

j FAYETTE D. KENDRICK.

` les fuor scopically arranged members freely movable Y f i Vrelative tol each other and a connection bef tween said crankfand steering element'adapted` to impart oscillating movement to` said element is movedfforsteeri-ng. Y Y I 4.; An attachmentfor a motor vehicle having av laterally'movable steering element con- 'crank and thereby turn Asaid lamp when saidA Y necting the front wheelsfandarigid 'frame member extending parallel to said element,

favertical sliaft,fnieans'for. securing said shaftto said frame member, a swivelv lamp secured to said shaftV andmeans for opera` 1ro l 

